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Is this a dream or a nightmare?

Quite a while ago, I woke in a cold sweat. I dreamt that I was a greeter in Walmart, welcoming shoppers and thanking them for "shopping here" with a big forced smile on my face. The dream sure felt real; in it, my stooped shoulders and creaky joints made it seem that time had fast-forwarded twenty years.

But wait!!!

Why would I be working in my old age? And in Walmart yet... arrrgh!!! I must have miscalculated how much money I would need when I retired. Between raising the kids, with their many needs and wants, the vacations and the cars that I just had to have, and all those bills and unexpecteds, who has the time and money to save?

For all you naysayers of saving for your future, consider that the future is exactly where your dreams are: your visions for a better life for you and your children, dreams of a comfortable retirement where you can finally savor the rewards of your working life, dreams of life being easier for your children or grandchildren because you could provide them with a higher education, and hopefully, better prospects of jobs with higher pay and more healthcare benefits.

Thanking the Lord that it was just a dream – okay, a nightmare – I embarked on a quest to save myself, and others, should they choose to join me in this quest.

My dream for you is that you will be golfing, traveling, or doing other fun things when you retire. Your mission, should you choose to retire in comfort, is to learn how to plan your financial future.